“It’s very good news because we were facing four games without George had our appeal been refused,” he told the club’s official website, http://www.mfc.co.uk.

“We’re grateful to the commission members for overturning the original decision.

“It was clear from TV replays that George did very little, if anything, wrong – save for raising his arms to protect himself as an opposition player ran towards him at speed.

“The referee didn’t have the benefit of replays and it was a very difficult decision for him to make, but I’m pleased that justice has been done.

“George would have had to sit out our important games against Wigan, Fulham, Charlton and Blackburn had the ban stood. How he can hopefully play a big part in helping us pick up points in each of those games.”

Southgate now hopes the club will be cleared of failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion, adding: “I don’t think our players did too much wrong. They were in there to break things up.”